Keyboard Controlled Telephony Features

1. A system comprising: a computing device connected to a first network, the computing device configured to execute telecommunications management software; a telephone connected to a second network; a call control facility configured to receive a command corresponding to a telephone control function from the computing device via the first network, and further configured to manage telephony services with the telephone via the second network in response to the received command; a keyboard including an interface to the computing device, a plurality of generic use input devices, and a plurality of dedicated telephone control input devices, each dedicated telephone control input device corresponding to one of a plurality of telephone control functions provided through the telecommunications management software; and a device driver stored and executed by the computing device to detect operation of one of the plurality of dedicated telephone control input devices and allow the corresponding one of the plurality of telephone control functions provided through the telecommunications management software to be initiated in response to said operation, the telecommunications management software being configured to send a command via the first network to the call control facility, the command corresponding to the telephone control function.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dedicated telephone control input devices include at least one pushbutton.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dedicated telephone control input devices include a start button for initiating activation and control of said telephone features by operation of the computer and said computer keyboard after said start button is pressed and held for a predetermined period of time.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said dedicated telephone control input devices include a call forwarding button, and wherein the device driver is configured to receive a code associated with the call forwarding button from the keyboard upon operation of the call forwarding button, and to activate a call forwarding function of the telecommunications management software in response to receiving said code.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein said keyboard further includes a first indicator light proximate to said call forwarding button, and wherein the device driver is configured to provide a signal to the keyboard to control the first indicator light based on whether the call forwarding function is activated.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said dedicated telephone control input devices include a voicemail button, and wherein the device driver is configured to receive a code associated with the voicemail button from the keyboard upon operation of the voicemail button, and to initiate a voicemail function of the telecommunications management software in response to receiving said code.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said keyboard further includes a second indicator light proximate to said voicemail button, and wherein the device driver is configured to provide a signal to the keyboard to control the second indicator light based on whether voicemail is detected by the telecommunications management software.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said dedicated telephone control input devices include a busy button, and wherein the device driver is configured to receive a code associated with the busy button from the keyboard upon operation of the busy button, and to initiate a call redirection function of the telecommunications management software in response to receiving said code.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein said keyboard further includes a third indicator light proximate to said busy button, and wherein the device driver is configured to provide a signal to the keyboard to control the third indicator light based on whether the call redirection function is activated.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein said dedicated telephone control input devices include an address book button, and wherein the device driver is configured to receive a code associated with the address book button from the keyboard upon operation of the address book button, and to initiate an address book function of the telecommunications management software in response to receiving said code.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein said dedicated telephone control input devices include at least one request-for-call button, and wherein the device driver is configured to receive a code associated with the at least one request-for-call button from the keyboard upon operation of the at least one request-for-call button, and to initiate a request for call function of the telecommunications management software in response to receiving said code.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein said dedicated telephone control input devices include a directory services button, and wherein the device driver is configured to receive a code associated with the directory services button from the keyboard upon operation of the directory services button, and to initiate a request for directory services call function of the telecommunications management software in response to receiving said code.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein said dedicated telephone control input devices include a technical support button, and wherein the device driver is configured to receive a code associated with the technical support button from the keyboard upon operation of the technical support button, and to initiate a request for technical support call function of the telecommunications management software in response to receiving said code.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein said dedicated telephone control input devices include a contacts scrolling wheel.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first network is a packet switched network and the second network is a public switched telephone network.

16. The system of claim 1 , the telecommunications management software being further configured to obtain information associated with the telephone from the call control facility, the information including at least one of a list of recent calls, call forwarding settings, and address book contact information.

17. A system comprising: a computing device connected to a first network, the computing device configured to execute telecommunications management software; a telephone connected to a second network; a call control facility configured to receive a command corresponding to a telephone control function from the computing device via the first network, and further configured to manage telephony services with the telephone via the second network in response to the received command; a keyboard system separate from the telephone and including an interface to the computing device, and a plurality of dedicated telephone control input devices, each dedicated telephone control input device corresponding to one of a plurality of telephone control functions provided through the telecommunications management software, the telecommunications management software being further configured to detect operation of one of the plurality of dedicated telephone control input devices and send a command corresponding to the telephone control function to the call control facility.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the interface to the computing device is a wireless interface.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first network is a packet switched network and the second network is a public switched telephone network.

20. The system of claim 17 , the telecommunications management software being further configured to obtain information associated with the telephone from the call control facility, the information including at least one of a list of recent calls, call forwarding settings, and address book contact information.

21. A method comprising: executing telecommunications management software on a computing device, the computing device including a keyboard interface to a keyboard having a plurality of dedicated telephone control input devices, and a network interface to a data network; establishing a connection between the computing device and call control facilities of a telecommunication service provider over the data network, the call control facilities connected to a voice network and configured to manage telephony services with a telephone that is physically separate from the computing device and the keyboard, the telephone being connected to the voice network; receiving an indication of operation of a selected input device of the plurality of dedicated telephone control input devices, the selected input device associated with a telephone action; transmitting a code associated with the operation of the selected input device to the computing device over the keyboard interface; determining a function of the telecommunications management software associated with the code; activating the function in response to the determination, the function causing communication between the computing device and the call control facilities to implement the telephone action; and the call control facility implementing the telephone action.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the telephone action is one of call forwarding, voicemail, busy redirection, request for call and accessing an address book.

23. The method of claim 21 , further comprising: transmitting the code over a wireless interface from a first module of the keyboard to a second module of the keyboard, the first module and second module being physically detached from each other.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the data network is a packet switched network and the voice network is a public switched telephone network.

25. The method of claim 21 , the telecommunications management software being further configured to obtain information associated with the telephone from the call control facility, the information including at least one of a list of recent calls, call forwarding settings, and address book contact information.